Everybody has his or her pile of shame. I know it, you know it, so quit denying it. It's only natural, especially in the months from September to November. Publishers tend to think we are made of money (or saving up all year for these special months) and subsequently release nearly every single blockbuster in these months. So we settle on one, maybe two big releases and tend to put the other ones on our infamous pile. However, when we stumble upon them on one of the feared "Saturday morning shopping endeavors" several months later, we tend to give the price tag a look and say "Holy fluffernutter, it's cheap" before grabbing our purse and having made a purchase ignoring that we have children/spouses/pets/slaves to feed. And let's be honest: nobody only buys ONE game, when we can save, so I thought I'd make a blog out of it. Ladies and gentlemen, Bargain Binge is born.

In this blog I'm looking at games that are available for cheaper than before and offer my opinion on them (think of it as a mini-review) and my personal estimation whether it is worth the reduced price of admission or not. In addition, I will then give my opinion on whether it was worth it's full price in the first place.
Opinion in this place means, that I will play it through or at least to a justifiable degree, when "playing through" doesn't apply (think: fighting games, sports games, MMO titles).

This, however, comes with a certain set of rules. I want to give an opinion here, not give publishers some free advertising space. So I gave myself a rule set that I will specify in this space to further link it in the articles (which saves me the time to type it down over and over again....HA, savings).

And without further ado:

THOU SHALT BE A NEW GAME:Used games are cheap. So much is for certain. However, their availability is not granted for everyone. I only consider games, that you can buy fresh off the presses, so to speak. Factory-sealed is the way to go.

THOU SHALT NOT BE AN INDIE GAME, NOR SHALT THOU BE RETRO:This is more of a philosophical choice here. While Indie games aren't that expensive to start with, retro games are always hard to come by except eBay or GOG.com. Since eBay is most likely used: no inclusion here.

THOU SHALT NOT BE ON SALE, BUT PERMANENTLY REDUCED:Maybe I'm a bad gamer, but I find it really difficult to get Mass Effect on a Steam flash sale and play it through, write an accompanying article and publish it for enough people to capitalize off of it in 4 hours....well you get my hint. No Black Friday sales, no Steam sales etc. Only permanently reduced games.

THOU SHALT BE AVAILABLE FOR CHEAP AT AT LEAST TWO RETAILERS AND/OR DOWNLOAD PLATFORMS:Again: I don't want to advertise publishers or retailers. They don't need it, I don't need it, you don't need it. So I'll check the price tag via common methods. If at least two retailers can claim a price according to these rules: it qualifies. Is it for cheap at Amazon and Gamestop? Come right in. Is it permanently reduced at BestBuy and on Steam? Oh in with you, fine piece.

THOU SHALT NOT COMETH WITH LINKS INCLUDETH IN THE ARTICLES:I simply wouldn't be comfortable with shitting out referral links or stuff. I trust your capabilities of using google or just writing me a message when in doubt. I'm not a marketer and don't want to be one.

THOU SHALT BE PRICED ACCORDING TO THESE GUIDELINES:What is a bargain? According to my rules for this, a game only qualifies: if it meets the certain price-tag:

- a single game: up to 20$/€
- a GOTY Edition: up to 25 $/€
- a collection of multiple games: up to 30$/€

So. These are the rules and general information. The first entry in this series will come later today, since I yet have to write it. However, I can spoil you what it will include: Syndicate (2012) and Mortal Kombat - Komplete Edition (this place was initially reserved for Yakuza 4 but it still costs 30 bucks up).